Book Description

Melia wants to be a writer just like her mom. She's not exactly sure what a writer does, though. She sees her mom staring at the typewriter and then she sees her opening up boxes of books. But what comes in between?

With some help from her mom, Melia begins to learn the tools of the trade. She learns how to make pictures with words, how to search for ideas, and, of course, how to start a story. Before she knows it, Melia's creating her own spellbinding tales. Maybe she is a writer after all! ... Read more

Reviews (1)

If I Were A Writer
This story is about a young girl who's mother is a writer. The girl watches her mother work and picks up pointers on things that writers do. The girl then starts some writing of her own. As a teacher, I have found that, this book inspires my students to become writers and it is wonderful to use with "writer's workshop." ... Read more

Book Description

In 1957, Ted Geisel, a.k.a Dr. Seuss, wrote a book call The Cat in the Hat. It was fun to read aloud, easy to read alone, and impossible to put down. It was the first Beginner Book.And that's exactly what it did. It began to change the way children learn how to read--to make learning to read a joy, not a task, to make reading for pleasure the best way to learn.

Please Try to Remember the First of Octember!
By DR. SEUSS writing as THEO. LESIEG
Illustrated in full color by ART CUMMINGS

Question: What do you get the kid who wants everything? Answer: Please Try to Remember the First of Octember!, the wonderfully exaggerated LeSeig Beginner Book that gently pokes fun at the green-eyed monster in all of us. Reissued with a new cover taken from the interior, this backlist classic is a parent's wish come true! ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Please try to Remember the First of Octember
Please try to remeber the First of Octember is one of my favorite Dr. Seuss books. The book teaches children how to be patioant with something. The book says that you will be around when the first of Octember comes around. So with that being said I think that your young ones will love this Dr. Suess book. I rated it a 5.

Great for the imagination
This is my favorite Seuss book. As a child I knew there was no 1st of Octember, but I loved to imagine all the things I would ask for and get if that day really existed. =)

This book will inspire kids to learn the months of the year
I have a working hypothesis that says the rationale behind a Dr. Seuss book being written by Theo. LeSieg rather than Dr. Seuss has to do with how real the world needs to be for the story being told. Dr. Seuss the artist only illustrates books written by Dr. Seuss the writer, while books by Theo. LeSieg are illustrated by somebody else; in the case of "Please Try to Remember the First of Octember!" that would be Art Cummings. While the story talks about such fanciful things as the new sport of Hock-Zocker, played on a Hock-Zocker court, or something as simply as a pair of green kangaroos, the young boy who desires such things looks like a normal kid. This needs to be the case because whereas it is highly unlikely in the real world that a cat in a hat might come through the door when your mother is out and try to tempt you into doing all sorts of things that would be fun but wrong, terribly wrong, every kid wishes for something extravagent.

Or, to put it another way, every kid wants something that they are never going to have and pester their beloved parents for a new skateboard TV or rockets to shoot or whatever. A parent can only say "No" so many hundreds of thousands of times before they are going to want to take a different approach, which is why I really think "Please Try to Remember the First of Octember!" is more for parents than for kids. That is because the point of this delightful little volume from the Beginner Books series (I Can Read It All By Myself) is that a kid can have everything they want, but they have to wait until the First of Octember.

The idea of the First of Octember, the day when all of your most outlandish wishes and dreams can come true, will certainly make Christmas seem like a third-rate holiday to young readers, who will be movitated to learn the months of the year so that they can find out exactly when the First of Octember comes each year. LeSeig's story does not offer many clues, beyond noting that May is too early and June is too soon. As always we have the simple words, catchy rhymes, and funny pictures that are the trademarks of the stories of Dr. Seuss (or LeSeig), and as young readers learn to read this on their own they will also catch on that their is something sort of funny about the impossible things for which they wish.

The Perils of Excessive Materialism
Most everyone is familiar with the kid who has a Christmas list that is pages and pages long. This book is about a similar child.

In this book the narrative voice (the parents), through clever rhymes, instruct the boy that all these things may come to pass, but not until the first of Octember (in school we used to hear similar tales about November 31st).

Using this phrase is much like saying, "when pigs fly", "when the cows come home", "when a certain-hot-place freezes over" or any other impossible time.

The only reason I did not give this book more than four stars is that at the end the boy still has hopes that there really is a first of Octember (but then some children may thing pigs will fly).

Clear illustrations and clever rhymes may make this one a favorite.

October+September
Please Try to Remember the First of Octember is an interesting book...it is about a kid who thinks he will get everything he wants on Octember the first, the things he wants could be beyond your imagination but i think it can relate to all the kids whos parents have said "you will get want u want on teh second tuesday of next week!" ... Read more

Book Description

"The sea, the sea, the sea. It rolled and rolled and called to me. Come in, it said, come in."

Thirteen-year-old Sophie hears the sea calling, promising adventure and a chance for discovery as she sets sail for England with her three uncles and two cousins. Sophie's cousin Cody isn't sure he has the strength to prove himself to the crew and to his father. Through Sophie's and Cody's travel logs, we hear stories of the past and the daily challenges of surviving at sea as The Wanderer sails toward its destination -- and its passengers search for their places in the world.

Reviews (122)

Sharon Creech's Best
This was the first of Sharon Creech's books that I read but I read many more of her books afterwards and they are great.
Sophie has a secret that not even she really understands. She wants to go on a boat trip with her 3 uncles and 2 guy cousins across the ocean to see her grandpa, Bompie. On the trip, they are all asked to teach one thing to everyone else. Sophie teaches Bompie's stories. She says Bompie told them to her but everyone knows she has never met Bompie. (He wrote her lots of letters, though.) Cody, one of Sophie's cousins, teaches juggling but everyone already thinks he is a complete goof and can never be serious. He is determined to prove everyone wrong and to be serious. Brian, Sophie's other cousin, needs to loosen up. He's a know-it-all.
This is a very adventurous book packed with secrets, mysteries, challenges, and memorable characters. Plus it's all told through Sophie's journal and Cody's summer journal.
If you read this book, I promise you won't be let down.

The Wanderer a review by Emma
Do you like sailing adventures and risky challenges? Then you should read the book The Wanderer by Sharon Creech. The protagonist, Sophia, her two cousins, Brian and Cody, and her three Uncles, Mo, Stu, and Dock, set sail on a dangerous adventure to see their Grandfather, Bompie. From Connecticut to Ireland, problems on the boat are numerous.
One of my favorite events is when Sophia sees a wave that is a little different than the others. As she gazes out into the ocean she notices an odd looking wave, it was not ebony like the others but white. It was covered in foam and grew bigger every moment. She shouted a warning toward Cody; he turned around saw the wave, crouched, and braced himself. She saw it hit him like a million bricks, and then Sophia took a deep breath and tried to hold as hard as she could to hold it.
Another one of my favorite events is when Uncle Mo (Cody's dad), teaches them radio code. They learned the whole alphabet. This is half of it, A= Alpha, B= Bravo, C= Charlie, D= Delta, E= Echo, and F= Foxtrot. They all called each other by their radio names; Sophia's would be Sierra- Oscar- Papa- Hotel- India- Alpha.
If you want to learn more about what happens to Sophia, or if you want to learn more radio code then ladies and gentlemen, I encourage you to read the book The Wanderer. There are many other exciting events in this story.

One of My Favorite Books
I read it at school for reading for the whole class. It's one of those books that just keeps you guessing we had so many ideas and thinks about what's going to happen next. It's one of my favorite books. READ IT

The Wanderer
I just finished reading this book, I think that this was one of Creech's best. I couldn't put the book down. It was so good and upbeat, and it kept you wondering what would happen next. I am not very interested in sailing but it was still excellent. I would suggest it to any person.

Waves and the Sea
An orphan named Sophie, her two cousins, and two uncles sail on a journey and face many challenges on the way in "The Wanderer". Wanting to see her grandfather, she rides with them, not to mention she loves sailing. Across the ocean is a long way and will take a lot of time. So why not try to get better acquainted? Each of them searches deep inside and finds their talent, trying to teach or tell the others how. Sophie knows so much about boats, and everyone thinks she doesn't because she's just a little kid. Sophie couldn't ignore the sea: the calling waves, the wind in your ears. Sharon Creech's style of writing captured many people's imagination because she wrote this very vividly. It captured mine and kept me enjoying reading The Wanderer. The Wanderer won the Newberry Honor Award medal and makes you feel sad toward the end. Creech's daughter actually journeyed across the ocean and inspired this story. It is a great book for all ages. ... Read more

Book Description

Poor Adelita! Night and day she slaves in the kitchen, and still her stepmother forbids her to attend Javier's party. But with the help of the old servant Esperanza, she disguises herself in a beautiful rebozo, or shawl, and wins Javier's heart. The next day Javier spies the rebozo in Adelita's window, and soon they live muy felices por siempre-happily ever after!

Based on Cinderella, Adelita is a wonderfully original story with a spicy Mexican flavor. Incorporating simple Spanish words against a stunning backdrop of Mexican colors and designs, Tomie dePaola has created an instant classic that will delight his many fans. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

A Mexican Cinderella Story.....
Poor Adelita. Her mother died in childbirth, her adoring father soon remarried a mean and jealous woman with two awful daughters, and then he unfortunately die, too. Adelita was now all alone in the world, living with an unloving, cruel family. Soon, she was relegated to the position of servant and sent to live in the kitchen, cleaning, cooking, and taking care of her stepmother's and stepsisters' every want, wish, and need. One day an invitation arrived for a fiesta at Senor Gordillo's hacienda to celebrate the homecoming of his son, Javier..... Tomie dePaola takes the old and familiar Cinderella story, and gives it a clever and humorous, south of the border twist. This is a much more realistic retelling. There's no pumpkin coach, fairy godmother, or glass slipper, but the magic of the Cinderella theme shines through with charm and wit. Mr dePaola's lively text is heartwarming and engaging, and sprinkled with Spanish words and phrases. But it's his vibrant and expressive artwork that really make this picture book stand out and sparkle. Each page is a feast for the eyes, filled with warm colors, dazzling Mexican folk art designs, and marvelous eye-catching detail. Young and old alike, will want to linger and explore each illustration before turning the page. Perfect for youngsters 4-8, Adelita is a wonderful addition to the collection of Cinderella stories. This is Tomie dePaola at his very best, and a must-have for all home libraries. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

Memorable!
I was looking for a book that would teach children as well as entertain them, and I was skeptical that I would find one that did both. Tomie DePaola is an absolute winner! The stories are complete, rather than abbreviated as so many children's stories are. He gives the children credit for being able to appreciate and understand the complex stories of St. Francis's life. The account of when Francis renounced his father was depicted completely, but respectful. His remarkable illustrations are helpful as well. In a time when we need to be teaching simplicity, this is the book to read to your children! If you love this book, I would also recommend his book on St. Patrick!

Francis: The Poor Man of Assisi
For anyone who is a fan of Tomie DePaola and wants to teach children about St. Francis of Assisi this is a terrific book. I have read this book to my children, to my religious education class and shared it with adults studying the spirituality of St. Francis. It appeals to both children and adults. Children love the stories and adults are inspired by how Mr. DePaola brings St. Francis to life. He took the time not only to research the text of the book but also the illustrations. He actually drew St. Francis from the likeness painted by the artist who knew him. It's a must have for those who celebrate St. Francis Day. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

No Better Than The Original
This review concerns the revised 1965 edition. Frank and Joe are drawn into a new mystery when a blind peddler gives them a glass eye and a warning. Through the course of the mystery they are confronted with the theft of the Jeweled Siva, a valuable Oriental idol; an innovative hydrofoil speedboat; a terrified wealthy businessman and a health farm run by a mysterious doctor. You would think that all of this would make an interesting book, but it doesn't. This book rarely held my interest and many of the chapter endings did not make me want to read more. The book is completely different from the original written in the 1930s, but neither book is very good and it is obvious the author of the revised edition had to force the story to fit the title by dropping the line "a figure in hiding" in various places in the book, even though it sounds awkward everytime. The very end of the book is particularly bad. Without spoiling it for anyone who decides to read the book, you go from the criminals having the upper hand to them being caught in a matter of three short paragraphs. This is definately not one of the better Hardy Boys mysteries.

A 10 year old reader
Mr. DIXON died. I think people shoudn't critisize what he worked on so hard. But it doesn't have any mystery....but at least its good.

A Below Average Book
This review concerns the original 1937 edition. Frank and Joe aid their father in rounding up an unscrupulous, phony surgeon, who dupes his victims by promising miracle cures for their eyesight problems. The book is well-written and the action level isn't bad, but there is no real mystery to solve. Frank and Joe aren't trying to find out who did what, or where something is hidden or what this gang is up to; they are just trying to get evidence that this surgeon is a crook. For this reason, I found that the book never really made me curious to find out what was coming next. The book is really good from pages 192-204, but unfortunately that isn't enough to make this a great book. I'd only recoomend this one to true Hardy Boys fans.

CRAZY!!
THIS BOOK IS VERY WEIRD INDEED! HOW ANY SURGERIES CAN YOU DO ON YOUR FACE?!?!?

O.K.
This book was all right, but I would rate it below average compared to other volumes in the set. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

FUNNY! This is a must-have book! Read it again and again!
This is one of my favorite books! IT IS SOOOO FUNNY!!! Please buy it! You'll love it forever! I did!

Roald Dahl's works always defy imagination!
I picked up the Vicar of Nibbleswick when I was 19, delighted that I had found a Roald Dahl book that I had never read before. This is a very fun book _for anyone_! If you have children or teach, this is a wonderful way to make reading pure fun. The book is not long, packed with humor, and tells a thoroughly silly tale. Also, considering the book is all about a dyslexic vicar, it is a wonderful book to share with a dyslexic child, not to mention any classroom with a dyslexic child in it. Roald Dahl has a way of making the fantastic part of children's lives. For your children or classroom, I also highly recommend the BFG (Big Friendly Giant) and Matilda, both by Roald Dahl and both as creative and imaginative as can be.

Hillarious!
This is one of the funniest books ever. It is very short, but is so funny I garentee that you will love it. When I read the part when the Vicar when the vicar says My dear woman:never plug the glass! You must pis. Pis pis pis. Pis gently as you walk along the rail," I laughed out loud in class really loudly and I couldn't stop. This book will have you laughing so hard at some parts in the book that you will fall over in your seat at the charm and pure pleasure of reading The vicar of nibbleswicke.

A must for all Youth Pastors and R.E. Teachers
I have worked with teenagers and children both within and outside the church and this book is a guaranteed winner. It is not only a great laugh but it also brings tears to the eyes in only a few minutes. As a Bible in Schools teacher it has been a winner!

This book is FUNNY!!!!!!!!!
I read this book and I just loved it. It was so funny what hesaid I was cracking up all night just thinking about it. I read it tomy little sister. I made my mom read it. I even read segments of it to my dad. they all loved it and It is really a treausure to have. The price they put on it is a true bargain. It is really worth more. I love Roald Dahl. Maybe that is part of the reason I like it!!! ... Read more

Book Description

Before he was a world-renowned children's book writer, Roald Dahl was a master of short stories for adults. The eleven tales collected here represent his finest work. By turns shocking, ironic, humorous, and touching, these stories are filled with bizarre twists and unexpected delights, and prove Roald Dahl's standing as one of the world's foremost storytellers. Readers will be spellbound from the opening lines.

"Packed with imaginative characters, quirky plots, and surprise endings, these eleven gems are the kinds of stories readers will want to share with their friends." (Children's Literature)

"These stories offer teens a superbly crafted, satisfying read." (Booklist) ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Very Entertaining!
Roald Dahl is a wonderful short story writer. He introduces all the characters in a very descriptive manner and ends his storys with twists that will make you want to read them over and over agian. I thoroughly enjoyed every one of the stories but when reccommend them to teenagers 13 and above as some of them have a vast range of vocbulary that is sometimes confusing. I would suggest this book to all my friends. It is definitely worth buying! :)

Wonka's dark side is just as great!
I always imagined Roald Dahl fashioned Willy Wonka on himself -- but then I read this book and saw he is equally gifted in weaving dark horrifying tales as well as the whimsical fantastic children's books for which he is famous.

SKIN runs the gamut with strange tales about ordinary people --- the man who had his friend tattoo a picture of his wife on his back to find out, years later, it is worth a fortune; the 60-something man who runs into his childhood tormentor on the commuter rail, etc etc. All situations that COULD happen to you or someone you know .. thus making them all the more real and scary.

Why Do You All Think This is a Kids' Book?
Dahl wrote for children as well as for grown-ups. Stop freaking out because this book isn't Charlie & the Chocolate Factory. It's excellent.

NOT WHAT I EXPECTED
I purchased this book in the belief that these stories would acually be macabre; instead they are only darkly humorous if even that. But this is Dahl, so my expectations were lowered from the beggining-although "Beware of Dog" was good. A particualary weak hearted reviewer gave this book one star because it was "horrifying" -heh heh heh. If one can't take this, I'd advise not to buy horror movies or you'll suffer a heart failure. The truth is cruel.

Skin!
I really liked the stories in this book, they are very clever, but a bit dark. All my friends want to read it.

-From a 13-year-old girl ... Read more

Book Description

Now that he's won the chocolate factory,what's next for Charlie?

Last seen flying through the sky in a giant elevator in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Charlie Bucket is back for another adventure. When the giant elevator picks up speed, Charlie, Willy Wonka, and the gang are sent hurtling through space and time. Visiting the world's first space hotel, battling the dreaded Vermicious Knids, and saving the world are only a few stops along this remarkable, intergalactic joyride.

Reviews (5)

Original Flickering Torch
After a brief absence, Leslie McFarlane returns for his second stint with "The Hardy Boys". He begins with a bang. The brothers are asked to investigate strange happenings at an Experimental Farm in Bayport. The majority of this book takes place at night and in part in underground tunnels. Unknown figures roaming about the farm hidden beneath black cloaks add an element of suspense. This book has a spooky feel and one that draws the reader from page to page. This book ranks among the series elite. RATED A

REVISION: The 1971 totally altered revision of this book with a completely new story was excellent, packed with pure suspense and a tough case to crack about two murders. Even the revision of this book ranks among my favorites and one of the best revisions in the series.

Don't Judge This One By It's Cover
This review concerns the revised 1971 edition. Frank and Joe investigate the deaths of two pilots after the planes that they were flying crashed into the cliffs at a nearby airport. This is a very interesting book with a really good plot. I enjoyed learning what the flickering torch really is and how it was connected to the rest of the case. This book is loaded with action and it kept me interested from the first page to the last. Ignore the awful cover on this book and read it anyway; you won't be disappointed.

An Average Hardy Boys Book
This review concerns the original 1943 edition. An elderly scientist comes to the Hardy home to seek Mr. Hardy's help in finding out who is stealing valuable silkworms from his lab. Mr. Hardy is busy on a case of government supplies being stolen from road construction sites, so Frank and Joe tackle the case for the scientist. Of course, the Experimental Farm where Frank and Joe had summer jobs is near the scientists home, and, oddly enough, a road construction site is also nearby. The book was a little slow going to start and I imagine many readers, after reading the first couple of chapters, would feel like giving up on the book, but it ended well. There is a moderate amount of action and the writing is good. One thing I didn't like about this book was that, aside from Aunt Gertrude and Mr. Hardy, none of the other main characters of the series played a prominent role in this book. This isn't the most thrilling book, but most readers would probably not feel like they wasted their time reading it.

Great Book
This is one of the greatest Hardy boy bnooks. It is about a scientist who comes to the Hardy's house and wants Fenton to find his stolen silkworms. Fenton however has tpo got away on another case and so Grable reluctantly lets the boys on the case. The boys are also working at the Experimental Farm where they meet some suspicoous characters. Then the Hardy's chum Dick Ames (who does appear in the Secret of Skull Mtn.) may come under suspiciion for a crime he didn't do. Read the rest to find out!!!!

Don't judge a book by it's cover
I loved this one. Don't judge it by it's cover. It sounds not very interesting, but it is one of the few volumes that has sort of a murder mystery at the heart of it's plot. The whole book keeps you in suspense trying to figure out what happened to two pilots killed in a plane crash from the first chapter on. ... Read more

Book Description

Once upon a time in Turkey there lived a funny, little wise man named Nasrettin Hoca. He wore a huge, white turban and a worn-out coat made of patches upon patches. Riding about on his little gray donkey, he liked to help whomever he could.

A friend to all, Nasrettin is a popular figure. But when he is suddenly ignored at a friend's banquet, he realizes it is his patchwork coat that is turning people away from him. He leaves the party and returns later, wearing a brand-new coat. Now Nasrettin is warmly welcomed. But instead of eating the delicious foods placed before him, he feeds them to his coat!

How Nasrettin Hoca teaches his friends a lesson about appearances is the heart of this hilarious and clever story. With good humor and luminous illustrations inspired by traditional Turkish paintings, Demi brings to life Turkey's most famous folk hero and imparts a timeless tale with a moral that will resonate with readers everywhere. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

De Paola's Best Yet
Strega Nona (Grandma Witch) is about the beloved character with the same name. She lives in a small town in Italy, where she cures sickness and warts. When she hires Big Anthony to help her, trouble starts. When Anthony sees her through the window making pasta by chanting a few words, he tries while she is on a trip to see a friend. Kids will enjoy the humorous ending and classic illustrations. (...)

Bewitched by the best
It's like "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" but without that annoying mouse. For many youngsters like myself, "Strega Nona", marks my earliest introduction to the delightful Tomie de Paola. To me, this story is pitch perfect. It has everything a classic folktale should have and it tells its story with a coy courteous eloquence. Few picture books are half as classy as "Strega Nona". It is perhaps the world's best.

Strega Nona lives by her lonesome in a small cottage in Calabria, Italy. A witch by trade, she cures the townspeople of their ailments, warts, and headaches. When Big Anthony is hired on as Strega Nona's servant she gives him very strict instructions on what he is required to do, and what he is forbidden to do. Quoth Strega Nona, "The one thing you must never do is touch the pasta pot". You can probably guess where this is headed. After seeing the witch conjur delicious cooked pasta fully formed from the pot, Anthony is eager to prove this miracle to the people of the town. When Strega Nona leaves on a trip, Anthony speaks her spell and feeds everyone in the vicinity delicious piping hot pasta. Unfortunately, Anthony didn't quite catch the way to make the pasta stop flowing. As the villagers attempt to prevent the growing pasta from destroying their town, Strega Nona arrives just in time to put everything right again. Anthony receives a just comeuppance and all is well in the world.

I can't pinpoint what exactly it is about this book that touches me so deeply. Maybe it's the imagery in the illustrations. Strega Nona has a prominent recognizable nose and a babuska's kerchief about her head. She is constantly surrounded by large rabbits and peacocks, setting the tone of the life she leads. Tomie de Paola's illustrations always contain an element of spirituality in them, and in this case it comes in the form of the priest and nuns living in the town. I also am greatly attached to the book's choice of words. There's not a syllable out of place in this tale. Not a wasted consonant or a superfluous adjective. It is a perfectly told tale with illustrations that verge on the sublime. All in all, a great book for kids and adults alike.

Strega Nona
This book was about a witch named Strega Nona who needed help to do work around the house, so a boy named Big Anthony came to help her. But he learend how to work Strega Nona's pot and made spaghetti for the whole town. When he told the pot to stop it just made more. Strega Nona blew three kisses the pot stopped, and big Anthony had to eat all the spaghetti. The funny pictures were colorful and made me feel happy.This strange tale teaches a lesson for all ages. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Hardy Boys Forever....!!!!
Bayport is suffering a water shortage due to water from a newly constructed reservoir mysteriously disappearing at night. Deciding to take on this 'mystery' for a bit of fun, Frank and Joe Hardy along with their best friend Chet, soon find themselves the target of a sequence of deadly attacks to get them off the case.

You might find the writing style of the book a bit dated due to the age of the novel, but you will soon get 'sucked in' to the story disregarding the 'cornyness' of the style. It follows the basic layout of a Hardy Boy story, the most noticable being the case they are working on has something to do with the case their famous detective father, Fenton Hardy, is also working on in Chicago. Great for young readers and nostalgic value. RECOMMENDED TO ALL!!!

A mysterious book!
I enjoyed reading this book. It was pretty fun, adventurous, and mysterious. Like many of the other Hardy Boys books, it is fun and exciting and it is hard to put the book down after a few chapters.There is always something suprising at the end of each chapter. When I tell myself to read just one chapter, I end up reading the whole book instead! I think this book may be one of my favorite books in the whole Hardy Boys Series.I enjoyed this book mostly because it is pretty humorous in some parts when Frank and Joe trick Chet. Overall, I really enjoyed reading the book.

The Secret of Skull Mountain
This book was the best in the series. I have most of the hardy boys books. I love reading them. They are so exciting to read. I read one chapter a night before I went to bed and I couldn't put it down it's so exciting to read these books. My favorite part in the book was when they kept finding skulls on the ground, and in caverns and crevices. I would recomend this book to a person who likes mystery.

A Great Book
This review concerns the original 1948 edition and the revised 1966 edition. The revised edition follows the plot of the original and only had some events cut to eliminate some pages. Bayport is facing a water shortage when the newly constructed reservoir on Skull Mountain will not fill with water. The funny thing is that the water level in the reservoir rises during the day, but then it falls again at night. Frank, Joe and Chet camp out on Skull Mountain with two engineers to try to solve the mystery. Both editions are really great books; the original is well-written (the revised edition lost much of the rich language of the original, for that reason I'd rate it 4 stars), both have lots of interesting characters, a lot of action and an intriguing mystery. This book is what the series needed to get back on track following the extremely disappointing "The Phantom Freighter". Both books are really good; although, if possible, I'd recommend reading the original. I can't think that any Hardy Boys fan would find either of these books boring.

An A+ Hardy Boys Mystery
This is by far one of the best Hardy Boy mysteries! Frank and Joe team up with two ecologists, investigating as to why the water supply of Bayport is draining at night. Think you can figure out why and how the water drains at night, but not during the day? I couldn't! ... Read more

Reviews (4)

the wailing siren mystery
I think that you should really read the book because of all the interesting and funny parts.Also it is filled with sad and terarivig parts

Full of Adventure
Originally published in 1951, the biggest flaw with this volume was the absolutely horrible cover art drawn by Bill Gillies in 1951. Nappi's 1968 revision was a vast improvement on the original cover and fishing trawler of a Sleuth portrayed on the front cover. The book itself opens with a bang as the Hardys find a wallet full of money while out in Barmet Bay during a storm. Personally I now think the Sleuth has a voodoo doll that has been hanging beneath somebody's shower head as everytime it seems they take out that boat it rains!! This is a well written suspenseful adventure that takes place for the most part in the "North Woods" near Bayport. Very delightful reading throughout the entire book until perhaps the final chapter which tended to lack creativity. I was somewhat let down with Chapter 25. But the first 24 were excellent. This was in fact one of my more favorite volumes. RATED A-

Another Great Book
This review concerns the original 1951 edition. Frank and Joe are plunged into another mystery when they are out in the Sleuth during a storm and they find a wallet full of money and when they track down some rifles and camping equipment stolen from Chet to the North Woods. This book has one of the best opening chapters of any in the series and it gets you into the mystery very quickly. The pages from about 60-130 when the Hardys and their friends go camping in the North Woods are the best, but the whole book is really good. One thing I liked about this book was that it actually remembered that Frank and Joe have other friends besides Chet and they were given more than just a passing mention. It's a great book any Hardy Boys fan would want to read.

It was a GREAT book!
A sharp voice cut the air."Stay where you are!"
Frank and Joe wheeled. A tall man, his hat pulled low, stood before them, a gun in his hand. ... Read more

Book Description

The timeless tale of how the true spirit of Christmas captured the heart of the irascible Grinch is retold in Latin in Quomodo Invidiosulus nomine GRINCHUS Christi natalem abrogaverit.This edition features the original artwork of Dr. Seuss and a translation that echoes the word play and rhythmic narrative of the world's best-selling children's author. ... Read more

Reviews (5)

Classic story of inspiration
Having been read by children of all ages and even made into a movie, the story of the Grinch is a familiar and beloved tale. The timeless triumph of love and goodwill retains all of its charm in Latin, especially because the authors retain rhyme and meter, even throwing in new wordplay.

The pictures from the original Dr. Seuss book help the reader follow the storyline, and the glossary in the back has every word in the book. Especially in modern context, the Grinch in Latin appeals to us by giving hope when even a grinch can be won over by sincere faith. Thus, while this book is wonderful as a gift to those studying Latin or looking to study Latin, it is also perfectly suitable for those who simply want a good story.

Latin alive and fun!
The glossary included in this book is awesome. You will not find a word in the story that is not included. The classic favorite has all of the illustrations we remember from childhood - while the Latin text allows you to practice, and keep building your vocabulary and reading skills. What a wonderful way to bring Latin to your children!

First Pooh, and now the Grinch?
Imagine my surprise when this showed up one day from a friend of mine. He gave it to my wife and me because she was a religion major and I'm a theology student working through my latin. There is nothing quite as fun as trying to make sense of something you already know, and the Grinch is a story I've known for years! The flow and cadence are even preserved, making the translators into linguistic artists beyond compare! Just be sure to pick up Winnie Ille Pu as well, and read to your kids in a language that is, to quote Python, "not dead yet!"

"The Grinch Who Stole Christmas"
When I first saw the book I knew it was what I was looking for. The idea of putting children's books into Latin is great because books in Latin are very few and far in between. I liked the book because it is colorful and easy to translate. Also the book makes a great gift for Latin students and teachers because it makes Latin a fun and interesting langauge.

One of the most interesting and fun books to read.
"The Grinch Who Stole Christmas," in Latin is one of the greatest Latin books I have read. I am a student of Latin and it is hard to find interesting books to read and translate. The translation is not hard and with the glossary, it makes reading very easy. ... Read more

Book Description

Tomie's family starts building their new house at 26 Fairmount Avenuein 1938, just as ahurricane hits town, starting off a busy, crazy year. Tomie has many adventures all his own, including eating chocolate with his Nana Upstairs, only to find out-the hard way-that they have eaten chocolate laxative. He tries to skip kindergarten when he finds out he won't learn to read until first grade. "I'll be back next year," he says. When Tomie goes to see Snow White, he creates another sensation. Tomie dePaola's childhood memories are hilarious, and his charming illustrations are sure to please. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Great way to make a well-loved author real to young readers.
26 Fairmount Avenue is a warm, personal story of popular children's author, Tomie dePaola. Young children are always curious about the authors whose books the read. Tomie's new book offers a delightful glimpse into his life as a child, something young readers will no doubtt find fascinating. His connections to his earlier picture books, especially those about his grandparents, will strike a familiar note with young and old fans, alike. I think 26 Fairmount Avenue provides an authentic springboard to students' writing of their own autobiographies, at any grade level (even with my university students).

We have seen so much of Tomie's life reflected in his picture books. Now he has provided older readers a place to revisit old favorites from a more mature perspective. His stories help us to realize that the events of our early lives do make strong impressions.

I can't wait for the next edition!

A wonderful addition to Tomie dePaola's body of work
In a delightful extension to his autobiographical picture story books comes Tomie dePaola's first novel - "26 Fairmount Avenue." Drawing on childhood experiences all readers will relate to - moving house, a first visit to the cinema, time spent with grandparents, starting school - dePaola weaves a magical tale so reminiscent of his superlative picture story books. Warm and nostalgic, without lapsing into sentimentality, this book will be welcomed by all who love fine children's literature. I hope more tales of 26 Fairmount Avenue are to follow.

first biography
In reading this book to my first grade class, Tomie always left them wanting to know more about his life. This first book in the 26 Fairmount Avenue series takes Tomie from the summer before kindergarten through his first year at his brothers "big" school. The story focuses on experiences dealing with moving in to a new house and neighborhood, having his teacher mispronounce his name, starting tap dancing lessons and many other events that shape his beginnings at his new life at 26 Fairmount Avenue. My students enjoyed every page of this new series, cover to cover and ended up checking out the book at the library all year! We continued to read the next four books throughout the year and continue to discuss them when we see each other around school. This new beginning biography series is a must have for every primary grade classroom.

Swim Over Here And Read This Book
26 Fairmount Avenue
By Tomie Depaola

Do you ever think that Tomie's house could get picked up in a hurricane just like in the Wizard of Oz? When Tomie was 5 years old his house was picked up by a hurricane. So then Tomie had to move to 26 Fairmount Avenue. Tomie's house was going to be on a new street. But workers came and made the street very deep so it looks like it was on a hill. Tomie's mom started to cry. Finally New Years Eve came and some of Tomie's friends came over for the celebration. The excitement doesn't end there.

I like this book because it is really relaxing and funny. The pictures are very detailed and the writing really keeps you interested.

The author taught me a lesson that you just have to be patient and something might come to you. Remember this book is a Newbery Honor book.

TOMIE DE PAOLA AT HIS BEST!!!
I thought this was an amazingly whimsiful book. Its filled with humor and its amazing that this is a real life story, its pretty hard to believe! Well for adventure and humor read "26 Fairmont Avenue"! And have fun shopping at amazon.com! (I no cheesy huh?) ... Read more

Book Description

Illus. in full color by the author. "Isabelle is upset because she's the smallest in the family. When the circus comes to town, the clowns observe her tumbling skills and ask her to star in a performance. Isabelle shines but after the performance, she realizes it's nice to be little sometimes too. Written in short sentences featuring simple words, this easy-to-read book should be popular."--Booklist. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Excellent
This book is a must-read. It is almost a whole different story from the blue cover edition. It uses 1930s words.

A Masterpiece!!!... by David House
The whole thing in this mystery is just terrific! The plot was made and planed very well. Plus I admitt one part gave me a little bit of the chills, like the part when unexpectingly the ticking of the clock that made Frank and Joe still. I hope that you'll read this book in 30 minutes like I did.(if you can) Please beg your mom and dad to get this book for you.

While The Clock Ticked
In all of those mystery books I had read, The Hardy Boys is the only kind I really interesting in, and in those Hardy Boys books the one I really love is While The Clock Ticked because I had it...^wink wink^...! Beside, I am a fan of The Hardy Boys after I had read this book from a friend. ... And it worth it, it was really.
It was starting with a mysterious stranger apparently steals some of Mr. Hardy's papers from the Hardy home, suspicious events are occurring at the local Chinese laundry and one of Mr. Hardy's clients demands that his name be cleared of rumors that he is involved in smuggling Chinese immigrants. And there is going to be more action and interesting then what I just wrote. So I suggest you should check you this book. But the whole idea of the book is it focused heavily on the title that I liked and presented a fairly good mystery.
It is really good in the beginning, and terribly good at the end. All people like to read mystery books should check out this book but do not forget to check out all other Hardy Boys books, though. Because I know author Franklin W. Dixon did not write just one book but many of them. I heard others Hardy Boys from him are really good, too. And in a minute I am going to look for them online. So anyway, I recommend you should check them out and save them for your summer reading books. Enjoy reading them and have a fun summer student from Mrs. Lenhardt's class.

An Intriguing Mystery
This review concerns the original 1932 edition and the revised 1961 edition. The revised edition closely follows the plot of the original and the two books are only different in that the revised edition is shorter than the original and some events have been added, eliminated or altered from one book to the other. A man from a neighboring town is receiving death threats, left in the secret room of a mansion that he recently purchased, and upon learning that Fenton Hardy is out of town, reluctantly allows Frank and Joe to investigate. As with all of the low volumes of the original set, this book gets high marks for the writing, in terms of the language used and the level of description applied to the scenes. The mystery is highly intriguing; however, the book is a little light (just a little) on action and this keeps it from ranking as truly one of the best Hardy Boys books.

The Hardy Boys and another spooky old mansion.
First published in 1932 and written by the great Leslie McFarlane. Revised in 1962 by James Buechler. The Plot: Raymond Dalrymple has been receiving death threats left in the secret locked room of the spooky old Purdy mansion on the Shore Road, which he recently purchased. He seeks Fenton Hardy's aid but Fenton's conveniently out of town, so Dalrymple reluctantly allows Frank & Joe to investigate the mystery. Rating: Original text: B+ Revised text: C+ ... Read more

Reviews (6)

The Hardy Boys Head South
This review concerns the original 1935 edition.
The Hardy Boys and their pal Chet head to the deep South and become involved in an old fued between the Rand and Blackstone families.
Modern readers are likely to have their sensibilities offended by the racial sterotypes in this book which cast African-Americans and Southerners in a particularly negative light.
Stereotypes aside, this isn't a bad adventure although it certainly doesn't rank among the best in the series.

An Average, But Interesting Book
This review concerns the revised 1961 edition. The owner of a newspaper based in a southern town asks Frank and Joe to prove his innocence in a libel case brought against him after his paper accused the ancestors of one of the towns leading families of having made their money through piracy. This isn't a bad book; there certainly are many different mysteries for Frank and Joe to solve: the libel case, a long-lost treasure and a strange "monster" which inhabits a pond not far from where the Hardys and Chet camp out. Mostly, the book was pretty good; although, the ending was a little disappointing as the criminals were caught without much trouble, but I think that most fans would enjoy "The Hidden Harbor Mystery".

A GREAT MYSTERY!
This is a book filled with adventure. I don't like Joe because he's very impolsive. And Frank he thinks about things before he does things and I like that and plus I'm dark-haired too like him. Anyway this book was completely thrilling. How would you like to walk in a hurricane? Well here's your answer in a realistic way. Be part of the fun and treasure this book forever.

A Highly Entertaining Book
This review concerns the original 1935 edition. Frank, Joe and Chet become involved in an old-time Southern feud when they come to the aid of an elderly man and he later accuses them of robbing him. This book actually reminds me more of something that I would read in the Nancy Drew series, but for people who aren't fans of Nancy Drew, don't let that keep you from reading this book, because I really enjoyed it. The book is very well-written and is very interesting. I'd recommend this one to any Hardy Boys fan.

Oh my God!
I liked it because it was action paced. I liked it when they discover theirs a family treasure to find and when they get trapped on a island, they run out of food and someone takes there boat. They also discover theres something mysterious in the pond. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Diamond In The Ruff
Published in 1942 - Although I rate this book a three star which denotes an average book, I cannot slander this book for any particular reason. In fact I cannot find anything wrong with it to any degree - except for this: There are other books in the series that are better and it would be unfair to them to give this volume the same high rating as them. Broken Blade was less breath taking, less action packed and less exciting than several other HB volumes, but I still regard this as a very good volume. The plot is about a search for part of a sword and a race against time as the Hardys and unscrupulous characters hunt for the same sword simultaneously. Their objectives are the same but the goals are different. Who will find the blade first? Broken Blade is one of the least talked about HB books. People rarely list it among their best or worst and it tends to go unnoticed by comparison. RATED B-

REVISION: The 1970 revision was not as good as the first but I still regard it as a pretty good book in its own right and definitely worth reading.

Not Very Exciting
This review concerns the revised 1970 edition. Frank and Joe help their fencing instructor, Ettore Russo, by going to California, along with Chet, to find the guard end of a broken saber. The saber had belonged to Russo's grandfather, and proof that Russo is the rightful heir to his grandfather's estate is supposed to be engraved on the saber. Also looking for the saber is a gang on bank robbers, who have stolen some of Mr. Hardy's voiceprint records. Personally, I didn't care much for this book. I found that the first few chapters weren't all that important and could have been eliminated or shortened without hurting the rest of the story much. Also, the Hardys are told to track down a certain man who may be able to give them clues as to the whereabouts of the saber and it takes them very little time to find him. I didn't feel that the book had much action and the last chapter was pretty bad. Frank and Joe don't even catch most of the gang; the only one that they do catch is in, of all places, the city dump. You can read this book if you like, but its not one I'd strongly recommend.

Well Paced And Lots Of Action
This review concerns the original 1942 edition. Mr. Hardy's case of thieves stealing merchandise as it is being unloaded from ships leads Frank and Joe into another case concerning a broken sword blade. This book is well written, fast paced, has plenty of action and has a good beginning that quickly grabs the reader. My big problem with the book was that, while Mr. Hardy played a prominent role in this book, he was the only one of the other main characters of the series to do so, since most of the book was set outside of Bayport. Still, it was a really good book that most Hardy Boys fans should enjoy.

Good Mystery
This was a very good mystery book. It is about fencing (swordfighting) and the search for an old missing blade that has a will written on it. In order to gather clues to find the blade, the Hardy Boys go on-set at a movie filming to help with stunts. In the process they actually partially team up with their father who is working on a separate but closely related case (which makes this book a bit different from others in its series). Although the plot was rather predictable (gosh, could it possibly be that Frank and Joe save the day?!?), the book was still a fun read and will be enjoyed by anyone who enjoys fencing.

Plenty of action
This review pertains to the revised edition: This was good book. Lots of action from start to end. I would highly reccomend reading it. I was not real crazy about the last chapter. It lacked creativity but otherwise the book is worthy of an average rating. ... Read more